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AbstractThe invention presents a new method for solvent-free synthesis of borohydrides at room temperature. Borohydrides are widely applied reagents for organic and inorganic synthesis. Due to their high gravimetric hydrogen density, they are very promising compounds for hydrogen storage in mobile applications. The synthesis is performed by milling of the corresponding metal hydrides in borane/hydrogen atmosphere. Swiss research institute is looking for licence agreements and testing of new applicationsDetailsThe synthesis of borohydrides is usually performed in wet chemical reactions with solvents such as ether or isopropyl amine making use of metathesis reactions with different halides or chlorides. In order to obtain a pure product the solvents and the salts forming as byproducts have to be separated from the final product. This makes the synthesis process complex, time consuming and costly. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain pure borohydrides as end products. As a consequence many borohydrides are not yet commercially available or are very expensive.The new synthesis method presents a general way to prepare pure borohydrides solventfree at room temperature. The after treatment of the final product becomes obsolete, which makes this process more effective and economic than other preparation methods. Additionally, the new synthesis method allows combining different metals for the borohydride formation. This might enable the synthesis of new, mixed borohydride systems with tunable sorption properties. The picture shows the presentation of the solvent-free preparation route for borohydrides: B2H6 reacts with the metal hydride to the final borohydride, while the passivation layer forming on the surface is continuously broken by high energy milling. The reaction proceeds according to following equation: MHx + x/2 B2H6 —> M(BH4)x Innovative Aspects: - The new synthesis method presents a general way to prepare pure borohydrides solvent free at room temperature. - The aftertreatment of the final product becomes obsolete, which makes this process more effective and economic than other preparation methods. - Additionally, the new synthesis method allows combining different metals for the borohydride formation. This might enable the synthesis of new, mixed borohydride systems with tunable sorption properties.
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